Reinforcement device for boxes and the like

ABSTRACT

A reinforcement device for reinforcing the hand-hold of a box is provided. The box has a top edge, a bottom edge, an inside surface, and an outside surface. The hand-hold is formed between the top edge and the bottom edge and has a first hand-hold edge, a second hand-hold edge substantially opposite the first hand-hold edge, a third hand-hold edge between the first hand-hold edge and the second hand-hold edge, and a fourth hand-hold edge opposite the third hand-hold edge. The reinforcement device comprises a handle member positionable about the first hand-hold edge and at least a portion of the third hand-hold edge and the fourth hand-hold edge. A securing mechanism secures the handle to the box between the hand-hold and the top edge of the box.

[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending U.S.provisional patent application Serial No. 60/360,925, filed on Feb. 28,2002, entitled “Hand-Hold Reinforcement Device for Boxes and the Like”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to a reinforcement device forboxes and the like and, more particularly, the invention relates to areinforcement device for boxes and the like which can be added about ahand-hold or slot formed on any box to reinforce the area of the boxaround the hand-hold and slot increasing the strength of the area aboutthe reinforcement device and extending the usable life of the box.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] On many types of boxes, hand-holds are formed in the side wallsadjacent the top of the box to assist a person in lifting the box. Thehand-holds are preferably sized to receive a substantially portion ofthe fingers and/or the hand of the person lifting the box. Bypositioning the hand-holds adjacent the top of the box, the person canmore easily lift the box without having to bend completely over tosupport the bottom of the box. In addition, carrying more than one boxis easier with box hand-holds since the center of gravity for the boxesis more evenly distributed.

[0006] In addition, for garment boxes, opposing slots are typicallyformed in or near the top edge of the box for receiving a wardrobe bar.The wardrobe bar is designed and constructed for carrying hangingclothes or other items. The amount of force and weight created by thehanging clothes on the box is tremendous thereby requiring manufacturersto use a heavier box material to prevent collapse of the side walls ofthe box from the weight of the hanging clothes.

[0007] Most cardboard boxes are constructed with cardboard flutessurrounded by a paper layer. When the box is constructed, the cardboardflutes are arranged to extend in a substantially vertical manner, i.e.,extending between the top and the bottom of the box. By extending thecardboard flutes in a generally vertical manner, the box has greaterstrength when a load is applied to the top of the box, i.e., whenstacking boxes. Unfortunately, when lifting the loaded box using thehand-holds or applying weight with hanging clothes, the box has reducedstrength in the vertical direction. In fact, unless constructed from amore expensive cardboard material, the hand-holds tend to break outalong the flute line under even moderate loads thereby rendering the boxhand-holds unusable.

[0008] Accordingly, there exists a need for a reinforcement device forboxes and the like which provides additional strength to inhibit failureof the hand-hold formed in the box or the wardrobe bar in a garment box.Additionally, a need exists for a reinforcement device for boxes and thelike which is easy to manufacture and can be applied to the box by themanufacturer or the consumer user. Furthermore, there exists a need fora reinforcement device for boxes and the like which is inexpensive tomanufacture and easily installed on any type of box.

SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention is a reinforcement device for reinforcingthe hand-hold of a box. The box has a top edge, a bottom edge, an insidesurface, and an outside surface. The hand-hold is formed between the topedge and the bottom edge and has a first hand-hold edge, a secondhand-hold edge substantially opposite the first hand-hold edge, a thirdhand-hold edge between the first hand-hold edge and the second hand-holdedge, and a fourth hand-hold edge opposite the third hand-hold edge. Thereinforcement device comprises a handle member positionable about thefirst hand-hold edge and at least a portion of the third hand-hold edgeand the fourth hand-hold edge. A securing mechanism secures the handleto the box between the hand-hold and the top edge of the box.

[0010] In addition, the present invention includes a system forreinforcing a box in the direction of a force with the box having a sidesurface and a top edge. The system comprises a first reinforcementdevice having a first side and a second side. An adhesive layer isapplied on either the first side or the second side of the firstreinforcement device with the first reinforcement device securable tothe box adjacent the top edge with the adhesive layer.

[0011] The present invention further includes a method for reinforcingan opening in a box. The method comprises providing a reinforcementmember, surrounding at least a portion of the opening of the box, andsecuring the reinforcement member to the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a reinforcement device forboxes and the like, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an elevational side view illustrating the reinforcementdevice of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the reinforcement device ofFIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with thereinforcement device being secured to the box about a hand-hold formedin the box;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating a method of constructing thereinforcement device, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, with two reinforcement devices being constructed togetherprior to being separated; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is an elevational side view illustrating the reinforcementdevice, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with thereinforcement device being secured to a garment box with a wardrobe bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the present invention is areinforcement device, indicated generally at 10, for boxes 12 and thelike. For purposes of discussion, the box 12 will be described as beingconstructed from a cardboard material. The box can have at least onehand-hold 14 formed in at least one of the side walls 16 of the box 12or a slot 72 formed in the box for holding a wardrobe bar 62 (FIG. 5).In addition, however, the box 12, which can be used with thereinforcement device 10 of the present invention, can be any type of box12 constructed from a variety of materials having a variety of shapesand sizes.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, the box 12 has a top edge 42, a bottom edge44 substantially opposite the top edge 42, a first side edge 46 betweenthe top edge 42 and the bottom edge 44, and a second side edge 48substantially opposite the first side edge 46. The hand-hold 14 isformed in side wall 16 of the box 12 between the top edge 42, the bottomedge 44, the first side edge 46, and the second side edge 48.Preferably, the hand-hold 14 is formed nearingly adjacent the top edge42 to further assist the user in lifting the box 12. It should be notedthat the hand-hold 14 can be formed in the side wall 16 centered betweenthe first side edge 46 and the second side edge 48 or nearingly adjacentbetween the first side edge 46 of the second side edge 48.

[0019] Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the reinforcement device 10is preferably constructed from a cardboard material althoughconstructing the reinforcement device 10 from other materials including,but not limited to, plastic, wood, metal, etc., is within the scope ofthe present invention. For purposes of discussion in the presentapplication, the reinforcement device 10 will be described as beingconstructed from a cardboard material having flutes (not shown)surrounded by a first layer (not shown) and a second layer (not shown).

[0020] The reinforcement device 10 of the present invention has a frontside 18, a back side 20 opposite the front side 18, a first side edge22, a second side edge 24 substantially opposite the first side edge 22,a top edge 26 between the first side edge 22 and the second side edge24, and a bottom edge 28 substantially opposite the top edge 26 andbetween the first side edge 22 and the second side edge 24. Preferably,the first side edge 22, the second side edge 24, and the top edge 26 aresubstantially linear although having the first side edge 22, the secondside edge 24, and the top edge 26 be non-linear is within the scope ofthe present invention.

[0021] The bottom edge 26 of the reinforcement device 10 has a firstlinear portion 30, a second linear portion 32, and a curve portion 34between the first linear portion 30 and the second linear portion 32.The actual amount of curve of the curved portion 34 can be any degree orsize, but should be sufficient to adjacently surround at least a portionof the box's hand-hold 14 in a position generally above the box'shand-hold 14 when mounted to the box 12, as will be described furtherbelow.

[0022] The reinforcement device 10 of the present invention furtherincludes attachment means 36 for attaching the reinforcement device 10to the box 12 to reinforce the box's hand-hold 14. The preferredattachment means 36 of the present invention is a layer of adhesive 38applied to the back side 20 of the reinforcement device 10. A releasableliner 40 can be positioned over the adhesive layer 38 and removed at apredetermined time thereby exposing the adhesive layer 38. Once thereleasable liner 40 is removed from the adhesive layer 38, thereinforcement device 10 can be applied to the box 12, as will bediscussed in further detail below.

[0023] While the attachment means 36 has been described as being anadhesive layer 38 applied to the back side 20 of the reinforcementdevice 10 with a releasable liner 40 releasably positioned upon theadhesive layer 38, the attachment means 36 can be any type of securingdevice including, but not limited to, any type of adhesive, tape,staples, clips, other mechanical fasteners, etc.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, the reinforcement device 10 of thepresent invention is secured to the side wall 16 of the box 12 above andadjacent the box's hand-hold 14. It should be noted that thereinforcement device 10 can be applied to either the outside surface ofthe side wall 16 of the box 12 or the inside surface (not shown) of theside wall 16 of the box 12. Furthermore, it will be understood by thosepersons skilled in the art that the reinforcement device 10 can beformed and/or constructed in the appropriate location on the box 12adjacent the box's hand-hold 14 during manufacture and construction ofthe box 12.

[0025] As illustrated, the curved portion 34 of the bottom edge 28 ofthe reinforcement device 10 curves about the box's hand-hold 14. It iswithin the scope of the present invention that the curved portion 34 ofthe bottom edge 28 actually be substantially rectangular or any othershape to correspond to the curve and/or shape of the box's hand-holdhold 14 so long as the bottom edge 28 does not substantially overlap orotherwise substantially interfere with a user inserting his or her handinto the box's hand-hold 14.

[0026] Preferably, the flutes of the reinforcement device 10 extend in asubstantially horizontal direction when the reinforcement device 10 issecured to the box 12. It should be noted that with the box's flutestypically extending in a substantially vertical direction and the flutesof the reinforcement device 10 extending in a substantially horizontaldirection, the reinforcement device 10 strengthens the box 12 about thebox's hand-hold 14. Therefore, the addition of the reinforcement device10 surrounding at least a portion of the box's hand-hold 14 providesadditional strength to the box 12 in the area of the box's hand-hold 14thereby inhibiting breaking of the box's hand-hold 14 when the loadedbox 12 is lifted.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a method of manufacturing the reinforcementdevice 10 of the present invention is presented. It should be noted thatthis is only one manner of manufacturing the reinforcement device 10and, as understood by those persons skilled in the art, other methodsare within the scope of the present invention.

[0028] In this embodiment, two reinforcement devices 10 are constructedfrom a single sheet of material. The adhesive layer 38 is applied to thesheet of material and the releasable liner 40 is positioned on theadhesive layer 38. A portion 49 of the sheet is then removed adjacentthe bottom edge 28 of each of the reinforcement devices 10. A score lineor perforation 50 is formed in the sheet of material to allow each ofthe reinforcement devices 10 to be separated from each other.Application of one reinforcement device 10 to both side walls 16 of thebox 12 can then be accomplished as described above.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 5, the reinforcement device 10 can besecured to a garment box 60 for supporting a wardrobe bar 62. Thewardrobe box 60 has a first side edge 64, a second side edge 66substantially opposite the first side edge 64, a top edge 68 between thefirst side edge 64 and the second side edge 66, and a bottom edge 70substantially opposite the top edge 68 and between the first side edge64 and the second side edge 66. A slot 72 is formed adjacent the topedge 68 for receiving the wardrobe bar 62.

[0030] In the past, the garment box 60 was constructed with a 350 poundtest material in order to support the weight or force of the clothes(not shown) supported by the wardrobe bar 62. With the reinforcementdevice 10 of the present invention, the garment box 60 can beconstructed from 200 pound test material and still adequately supportthe clothing load thereby reducing manufacturing costs associated withconstructing the garment box 60.

[0031] The reinforcement device 10 of the present invention provides anovel device for increasing the longevity of the box's hand-hold 14 andallowing a user to lift heavier objects. If fact, the inventors of thepresent invention have determined that the reinforcement device 10allows a person to lift approximately twice as much load as compared toa box 12 without the reinforcement device 10 positioned about the box'shand-hold 14. Furthermore, the reinforcement device 10 providesadditional safety for the user by inhibiting failure of the box'shand-hold 14 and accidental injury if the falling box 12 should contactthe user.

[0032] The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrativepreferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained inthe drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications andalternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been soshown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may bemade therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limitedonly to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, theinvention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absenceof the specific elements which are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reinforcement device for reinforcing thehand-hold of a box, the box having a top edge, a bottom edge, an insidesurface, and an outside surface, the hand-hold formed between the topedge and the bottom edge and having a first hand-hold edge, a secondhand-hold edge substantially opposite the first hand-hold edge, a thirdhand-hold edge between the first hand-hold edge and the second hand-holdedge, and a fourth hand-hold edge opposite the third hand-hold edge, thereinforcement device comprising: a handle member positionable about thefirst hand-hold edge and at least a portion of the third hand-hold edgeand the fourth hand-hold edge; and securing means for securing thehandle to the box between the hand-hold and the top edge of the box. 2.The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein the handle member isconstructed from a cardboard material having flutes between a firstlayer and a second layer.
 3. The reinforcement device of claim 2 whereinthe flutes of the handle member are positioned in a substantiallyhorizontal position.
 4. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein thehandle member has a front side, a back side opposite the front side, afirst side edge, a second side edge substantially opposite the firstside edge, a top edge between the first side edge and the second sideedge, and a bottom edge substantially opposite the top edge and betweenthe first side edge and the second side edge.
 5. The reinforcementdevice of claim 4 wherein the first side edge, the second side edge, andthe top edge are substantially linear.
 6. The reinforcement device ofclaim 4 wherein bottom edge has a first linear portion, a second linearportion, and a curve portion between the first linear portion and thesecond linear portion whereby the curved portion adjacently surrounds atleast a portion of the hand-hold in a position generally between the topedge of the hand hold and the top edge of the box.
 7. The reinforcementdevice of claim 1 wherein the securing means is a layer of adhesivebetween the handle member and the box.
 8. The reinforcement device ofclaim 7, and further comprising: a releasable liner positioned over theadhesive layer.
 9. The reinforcement device of claim 1 wherein thehandle member is secured to either the inside surface or outside surfaceof the box.
 10. A system for reinforcing a box in the direction of aforce, the box having a side surface and a top edge, the systemcomprising: a first reinforcement device having a first side and asecond side; and an adhesive layer on either the first side or thesecond side of the first reinforcement device, the first reinforcementdevice securable to the box adjacent the top edge with the adhesivelayer.
 11. The system of claim 10 and further comprising: a secondreinforcement device, the first reinforcement device connected to thesecond reinforcement device by a score line.
 12. The system of claim 10wherein the first reinforcement device is secured to the box adjacent aslot formed in or near the top edge of the box.
 13. The system of claim10 wherein the first reinforcement device is secured to the boxsurrounding at least a portion of a hand-hold formed in the box.
 14. Thesystem of claim 10, and further comprising: a releasable linerpositioned over the adhesive layer.
 15. A method for reinforcing anopening in a box, the method comprising: providing a reinforcementmember; surrounding at least a portion of the opening of the box; andsecuring the reinforcement member to the box.
 16. The method of claim15, and further comprising: forming a hand-hold in the box; forming atleast one curved edge in the reinforcement member, the curved edge beingcurved substantially similar to the configuration of the hand-hold; andsecuring the reinforcement member to the box about the hand-hold. 17.The method of claim 15, and further comprising: forming a slot adjacenta top edge of the box; and securing the reinforcement member adjacentthe slot, the slot positioned between the slot and the top edge.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, and further comprising: applying an adhesive layerto one side of the reinforcement member; and securing the reinforcementmember to the box with the adhesive layer between the reinforcementmember and the box.
 19. The method of claim 18, and further comprising:positioning a releasable liner over the adhesive layer.
 20. The methodof claim 19, and further comprising: removing the releasable liner.